controls urge and stress incontinence. Gets you back into the shape you need

Who is Pfilates suitable for?

Pfilates is suitable for:

Fitness Instructors

Personal Trainers

Pilates Teachers

Ante/Postnatal Specialists

Chiropractors

Physiotherapists

Osteopaths

And, ANYONE with an interest in pelvic floor health!

You do NOT need to have a Pilates qualification to attend, and on completion of the Workshop, you’ll receive certification as a Pfilates Instructor.

The Pfilates method can be used 1-2-1 with clients who require specialist attention, and also lends itself well to instruction in small groups. Pfilates is particularly popular with groups of postnatal women.

Who created Pfilates?

Founder of Pfilates program

The PFilates program was created by Urogynecologist Dr. Bruce Crawford to help women and men improve pelvic floor fitness.

Pfilates includes a series of exercise routines to assist clients improve pelvic floor strength, in a progressive pelvic floor fitness training program.

In 2008, Dr. Crawford studied 120 mat Pilates, Yoga, and personal training movements using and from this pool of data, a series of movements were selected that provide excellent passive engagement of the pelvic floor by using various co-contractors including the Transversus abdominis, lower extremity adductors, and Gluteals.

The result? We achieve much greater motor-unit recruitment per contraction than the “traditional Kegel”.

The Pfilates program exploits principals of plyometric training and overflow to achieve optimal pelvic floor performance.

Without a doubt, when a gynaecologist develops a program to improve pelvic health then you know it will be effective and ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’.
Pfilates was developed by one of the most respected gynaecologists Dr Bruce Crawford.
Pfilates is sweeping the continents with physiotherapists being trained to teach Pfilates to men and women.

C&G Medicare in the UK have worked with Dr Crawford for a number of years and has seen the success Pfilates has on women of all ages.

This unique program consists of 3 build up phases which allows the inexperienced in pelvic floor exercises gain confidence and strength starting at phase 1.
Pfilates kits are available from http://www.incoshop.com and the qualified medical staff at C&G Medicare are always on hand to offer professional advice.

Pelvic floor strengthening helps build good muscle tone which may prevent pelvic organ prolapse in some women, will help with preparation for an easier child-birth and will help with controlling bladder and bowel weaknesses. maintaining pelvic floor exercises with pfilates speeds up post partum recovery.

Have you noticed the popularity of vibration platforms in gyms and some health clinics over the past few years? Manufacturers list a long line of benefits including weight loss, improved bone density in menopausal women, improved athletic performance, improved balance and flexibility. This is not a new concept, during the 1960’s the Germans were studying the effects of whole body vibration on their athletes and in the 1970’s the Russian space program found it benefited their cosmonauts who experienced muscle loss and bone thinning after spending long periods in space (a zero gravity environment). As a result of ongoing research by the European Space Agency and NASA, the whole body vibration platform was born.Studies have showed a range of possible benefits from vibration machine training. These include improved balance in older women, improved muscle strength in older men or women and boosted bone density levels in post menopausal women. Many online sources claim it improves the symptoms of incontinence however very little research on vibration/pelvic floor is available. One study has shown which type of vibration leads to higher pelvic floor muscle activation in subjects with weakened pelvic floors and which type achieved higher levels of pelvic floor activation than voluntary maximal contraction alone. For the rest of the article. Read more

What better way to start spring time with KeyGal tested and voted as one of the best pelvic toners to encourage women to remember how to do their pelvic floor exercises by women’s health physiotherapists.

Your Healthy Living magazine is a lead magazine available from health stores (pick up your free copy from the health stores) has great articles and ethical products which have been tested and assessed by the team at YOUR HEALTHY LIVING. http://www.yourhealthyliving.co.uk/

In this months issue you will find the lovely Linda Lucardi revealing her secrets on how she keeps looking good and in shape.

Your Healthy Living ran a competition to win a prize worth almost £50 worth. The KeyGal pelvic floor exerciser and a copy of the best selling Hold It Sister by lead physiotherapist Mary O’Dwyer. 5 lucky winners will be mentioned on the www.incostress.com site.

KEGEL EXERCISES A NEW BEGINNING

Everyone knows that Dr Arnold Kegel discovered the pelvic floor exercises. Exercises which are to this day, encouraged by medical professionals to prevent conditions such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and in general weak pelvic floor muscles.

Weakness of the pelvic floor can be hereditary or can be caused from a range of factors. Obesity, pregnancy, low oestrogen levels, menopause, Pelvic organ prolapse, laxity of the pelvic floor muscles are to name a few reasons why the pelvic floor needs extra attention.

Dr Arnold was a brilliant gyaneacologist in his time and has opened the path for many to follow his good work in his footsteps.

Dr Bruce Crawford OBYGYN

Founder of Pfilates program

One gynaecologist in Nevada who has excelled in his work not only as a brilliant gyaneacologist but as a compassionate man who understands the needs of women who suffer with pelvic organ dysfunction of any kind. Dr Bruce Crawford MD understands the importance of helping women solve conditions such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse etc.

For many women these conditions are demoralising and often have a negative impact on the quality of life. Many women find themselves becoming more and more introverted due to issues such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

When they do pick up the courage to speak to a doctor, they are kept waiting for months (sometimes in pain) before they get to see a gyaneacologist to find out what the cause of the problem actually is. Many women don’t want to have surgery and are too frightened to seek medical help because they think that is all there is left for them.

Physiotherapy treatment is an excellent way to start the pelvic floor rehabilitation process. We found from a survey of 150 women in the United Kingdom, those who spoke to their physiotherapist felt reassured and completely comfortable with opening up their feelings. The physiotherapist took time to explain everything of the ‘hows and why’s of the pelvic floor. (GPs in the UK often don’t have the time to speak to their patients, and as patients don’t see incontinence or pelvic floor issues as a life threatening problem many don’t seek help as they ‘don’t want to bother the doctor’.

Out of the 150 women who did seek physiotherapy help 78% were found to have not known how to do a kegel exercise correctly before seeing the physiotherapist. Are you doing your pelvic floor exercises correctly?

Dr Bruce Crawford develops Pfilates (the only exercise program with clinical studies)

Pfilates is a program of neuromuscular conditioning based on extensive EMG recordings taken from the pelvic floor. Pfilates was created by an American Urogynecologist to provide a method of home pelvic floor fitness training accessible to a broad population.

Pelvic floor disorders are absolutely epidemic. Stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, female sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence are so commonplace they are often regarded as the inevitable consequences of childbirth and aging. When these conditions are treated they are to often regarded as purely mechanical disorders requiring a surgical solution. Although trained as a surgeon I have come to regard these disorders as principally neuromuscular disorders deserving of a neuromuscular solution.

It is clear that programs of pelvic floor neuromuscular rehabilitation successfully improve pelvic floor symptoms. Such programs typically involve a set schedule of isometric pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises) that must be continued long term. It is also clearly established that very few women will continue to perform this type of isometric exercises for an extended period of time.

In creating the Pfilates program we have ventured to provide a plyometric (movement oriented) method of pelvic floor exercise that could be incorporated in to any regular fitness routine. Our neuromuscular research reveals that movements which engage the external hip rotators, adductors of the thigh, transverses abdominals, and gluteal muscles also facilitate, or induce, a pelvic floor contraction. This information has proven especially useful for women unable to perform an isolated voluntary pelvic floor contraction.

The Pfilates program is a simple program consisting of ten movements presented in the same order in three different phases (beginning, intermediate, and advanced). Each of the Pfilates movements includes a series of repetitions followed by a hold phase and a pulse phase at the point of peak engagement of the pelvic floor. As such these movements encourage the development of the three essential elements of neuromuscular performance: strength, endurance, and coordination. The Pfilates DVD includes a detailed “Learn These Movements” that should be reviewed carefully before beginning any of the ten minute routines.

Pfilates is intended to be preventative but also a therapeutic alternative for those already experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. For patients that have already has surgery Pfilates can help protect the investment and reduce the chance for recurrent symptoms

For more information about Pfilates program contact C&G Medicare Ltd. We are offering the full Pfilates kit which includes 64 minute DVD of Pfilates exercises, 1 full colour manual, 20 cm Pfilates ball, plus a free antibacterial cleaning spray plus a free satin bag to store your kit in. Total value £51.48 we are offering this for just £29.99 at our store www.incoshop.co.uk

A natural way to control incontinence and discreetly do pelvic floor exercises

.Incostress has already proved to improve the quality of life for thousands of women around the world since it was first launched in 2007. It as claimed international awards for best medical device, best design, innovator of the year (twice) and best product for science and technology in 2008. Could 2012 be another award-winning year for this amazing little medical device?

We would love to hear from you regarding your personal or if you know someone who is having to deal with incontinence. Incostress not only immediately controls incontinence it has also been found to help women who have a pelvic organ prolapse called a rectocele. A rectocele is where the bowel collapses into the vaginal wall. Incostress supports the bowel wall.

Incostress is distributed by many independent pharmacies and also by the largest pharmacy in the United Kingdom Boots. Incostress is available on-line at http://www.boots.com but can also be ordered in store.

The Inventor of Incostress has set up a free help line for women who suffer incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse issues. Her amazing team consists of registered women’s health physiotherapists from around the world and gynaecologists who all offer their valuable time on a voluntary basis to help raise the awareness of incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Her team ensures patients are given the correct information about their individual conditions.

There are so many products out there without medical clinical evidence to support their claims that women who are seeking help tend to ‘waste their money’ as they can end up buying a product which is not suitable for their condition.

C&G Medicare Ltd in the UK offer a unique FREE service which advises (but never diagnoses) patients on the best route to help them with their condition. It is ALWAYS recommended that you visit your doctor or physiotherapist to discuss all symptoms you have for you to get the best treatment.

Do you run an independent pharmacy? contact www.incostress.com for information and leaflets on Incostress.